Highlights importance of the investor community in supporting innovation emerging from UK universities

Cements UK’s status at the forefront of many of the world’s newest high-growth industries

London Stock Exchange’s University IP Commercialisation Forum, in partnership with Numis, today brings together Government representatives, university tech-transfer offices, chief executives of many of the UK’s university spin-outs and UK and international investors. They will discuss the UK’s success to date in supporting university IP commercialisation and the continued need for a wider set of investors to engage in the sector.

London Stock Exchange is playing a leading role in supporting university IP commercialisation:

Since 2014, 13 university spin outs have joined London Stock Exchange’s markets raising £2.5 billion and today have an aggregate market value of £4.3 billio

IP Group (formerly IP2IPO) was the first IP commercialisation company to join London Stock Exchange, floating on AIM in 2003

Xavier Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group:“Bringing breakthrough science and technology to the market place is critical for our economy, both economically through the creation of new, high-quality jobs and to the quality of public life. The companies here today are testament that the right form of equity funding, private or public, allows businesses to innovate and grow rapidly. Together with Government and the investor community, we are creating a unique ecosystem in the UK to support innovation, allowing UK and US IP commercialisation businesses and their portfolio companies to thrive.”

George Freeman MP, Chair, The Prime Minister’s Policy Board: “UK universities are at the forefront of global R&D, science and innovation. The commercialisation of research at UK universities through ‘Tech Transfer' has huge potential to attract global investment, create the technologies, businesses and high skilled jobs of tomorrow, and drive a more global UK economy exporting innovation to emerging markets. This Government is committed through our Industrial Strategy to fostering the relationship between universities, business and finance to support this exciting growth in our economy.”Garri Jones, Venture Broking Lead at Numis:"Numis recognises the leading role that the UK continues to play in enabling university based IP to be funded for the long term by the public capital markets. Numis are proud to act for many of the companies presenting today and our healthcare and venture broking teams will continue to work together to help expand the sector"

David Docherty, CEO, National Centre for Universities and Business:“In this new world, the UK urgently needs intense, sophisticated and productive collaboration between its world class research base and inventive firms. Investors play a vital role in fuelling growth based on these relationships, and we must all work together to increase the quality of communications and broker engagement between all these sectors.”

Nigel Wilson, CEO, L&G: “Spinning out research and development from our universities and turning this innovation into the companies of the future, is paramount if the UK is to improve productivity and deliver economic growth. Legal & General is investing £15 billion in our great towns and cities. We are partnering with universities on research and development, and lending to SMEs. The UK is a world leader in start ups, we need to invest to make them successful scale ups.”